News for 'rural india'

'Money Is Not A Problem For Me'

'Money Is Not A Problem For Me'

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

'I can sanction projects worth Rs 20 trillion annually as of today.' 'But my system is only capable of executing projects worth Rs 3 trillion to Rs 4 trillion.'

Patients to benefit from GST cut, but pharma firms may face margin pressure

Patients to benefit from GST cut, but pharma firms may face margin pressure

Rediff.com12 Sep 2025

The rationalisation of goods and services tax (GST), announced on Wednesday, directly lowers the cost of everyday medical consumables, and also high-end therapies in oncology and rare diseases, helping reduce out-of-pocket patient expenditure and better adherence to medication.

Extreme poverty nearly alleviated in India: SBI research

Extreme poverty nearly alleviated in India: SBI research

Rediff.com3 Jan 2025

As the poverty rates in the country declined below 5 percent in 2024, a research study by State Bank of India also highlighted that the extreme poverty in the country has been reduced to minimal.

'Caste Enumeration WILL Be A Big Challenge'

'Caste Enumeration WILL Be A Big Challenge'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

'It is for the first time in Independent India that collection of information on caste is being done.'

Centre plans to list at least five RRBs by FY27-end

Centre plans to list at least five RRBs by FY27-end

Rediff.com24 May 2025

After the merger of regional rural banks (RRBs) under the "One State, One RRB" policy to improve their efficiency and minimise competition among public-sector banks (PSBs) that sponsor them, the government is planning to list at least five RRBs by the end of financial year 2026-27 (FY27). After the latest amalgamation that came into effect on May 1, there are 28 RRBs in 26 states and two Union Territories (UTs), with more than 22,000 branches covering 700 districts.

Will These Films Win An Oscar?

Will These Films Win An Oscar?

Rediff.com16 Sep 2025

The festival's People's Choice Award, voted by the audience, is a strong indication of films that can eventually be nominated and even win Oscars. Twelve of the last 15 People's Choice winners have received Best Picture Oscar nominations.

Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan, the new seat of govt

Modi inaugurates Kartavya Bhavan, the new seat of govt

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Kartavya Bhavan, the first of ten Common Central Secretariat buildings, aiming to consolidate ministries for improved efficiency. The building will house several key ministries, relocating them from older, outdated structures.

Consumer goods companies bank on festivals for urban demand revival

Consumer goods companies bank on festivals for urban demand revival

Rediff.com2 Aug 2025

Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, retail firms, and producers of consumer durables are witnessing stable urban demand. However, people in the trade are waiting for clearer signs of revival closer to the festival season, starting in September.

Why D-Street is positive on 2-wheeler stocks

Why D-Street is positive on 2-wheeler stocks

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

Given the stronger rural activity, and potential goods and services tax (GST) impact, investors are bullish on the two-wheeler (2W) segment. In August, dealers in the domestic market picked up 11 per cent more 2Ws year-on-year (Y-o-Y), despite only 2 per cent growth in retail registrations. This indicates inventory stocking ahead of the festival season. Export trends were good. TVS Motor and Royal Enfield may have gained domestic market share.

Mamata hits out at BJP over voter list 'deletions', attacks EC

Mamata hits out at BJP over voter list 'deletions', attacks EC

Rediff.com28 Aug 2025

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of 'linguistic terror' and plotting to delete Bengali voters from electoral rolls, vowing to protect voting rights.

'I'm Not Against Hindi. I'm Against Linguistic Centralisation'

'I'm Not Against Hindi. I'm Against Linguistic Centralisation'

Rediff.com1 Jul 2025

'We already understand Hindi -- through Bollywood, TV, pop culture.' 'But we never forced it on ourselves.' 'When something is imposed, the joy and organic nature of learning disappears.'

Is ethanol-blended petrol damaging your vehicle? Govt says...

Is ethanol-blended petrol damaging your vehicle? Govt says...

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

The ministry stated that for vehicles designed for E10 and calibrated for E20, mileage may drop by just 1-2 per cent, while in other vehicles, it could be around 3-6 per cent.

Red alert in many states as monsoon covers India; 2 killed U'khand

Red alert in many states as monsoon covers India; 2 killed U'khand

Rediff.com29 Jun 2025

The labourers, who are said to be of Nepali origin, were engaged in the construction of a hotel.

Centre Begins Historic Relocation of 30,000 Employees

Centre Begins Historic Relocation of 30,000 Employees

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

The orders issued this month have selected ministries ranging from home affairs under Amit Shah to rural development, headed by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to move to Building 3 -- currently named CCS-03 -- on Kartavya Path. The scale of the shift will be even larger than when most of Lutyens' Delhi's present crop of government buildings came up in the early 1930s.

Budget 2016: Modi's panacea for rural India is as hopeless as ever

Budget 2016: Modi's panacea for rural India is as hopeless as ever

Rediff.com7 Mar 2016

In spite of Budget's rural focus, the government has consistently stumbled in agriculture, says Shreekant Sambrani.

How India Inc plans to tap robust rural market

How India Inc plans to tap robust rural market

Rediff.com30 Nov 2020

While companies have not launched too many products in rural areas of late, easy financing has helped push up demand.

Will RBI Cut Repo Rate Following Trump's Tariffs?

Will RBI Cut Repo Rate Following Trump's Tariffs?

Rediff.com5 Aug 2025

'The US reciprocal tariff has added another element of uncertainty and the central bank may prefer to wait and get further clarity.'

Trade war hit on India likely to be limited: RBI

Trade war hit on India likely to be limited: RBI

Rediff.com23 Apr 2025

The Indian economy could remain less affected by global trade wars than other countries because the two engines of domestic growth - consumption and investment - are likely to face a limited impact from such headwinds, according to an article on the 'State of the Economy' in the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI's) bulletin, released on Tuesday.

Why Jarange Patil Wants OBC Status For Marathas

Why Jarange Patil Wants OBC Status For Marathas

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

'These Marathas are farmers and they only do farming. They have no other business other than farming. Now, they want reservations because farming is no longer a profitable business.'In this interview, veteran farmers' rights advocate and founding member of the Shetkari Sanghatna, Vijay Jawandhia, with Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff unpacks the historical and structural roots of the agitation.

How Women Voters Cemented Nitish Kumar's Political Fortress

How Women Voters Cemented Nitish Kumar's Political Fortress

Rediff.com6 Sep 2025

For nearly two decades, Nitish Kumar has cultivated women as a distinct constituency. 'To create a broader vote base, he thought it would be better to bring women to electoral politics.'

The Dangerous Reality Behind Maharashtra's 'Urban Naxal' Law

The Dangerous Reality Behind Maharashtra's 'Urban Naxal' Law

Rediff.com21 Aug 2025

'The law under the guise of security represents a grave and unnecessary expansion of State power at the cost of fundamental rights,' asserts Aakar Patel.

FMCG volume growth slows to 5.1% in Q4

FMCG volume growth slows to 5.1% in Q4

Rediff.com8 May 2025

The volume growth of India's FMCG industry has slowed down in the March quarter to 5.1 per cent, driven by increased consumer purchases of small-value packs, according to the latest report from data analytics firm NielsenIQ. Volume growth is slowing across categories, and non-food segments are still outpacing food in the FMCG sector.

Modi announces Rs 1,600 cr relief package for flood-ravaged Punjab

Modi announces Rs 1,600 cr relief package for flood-ravaged Punjab

Rediff.com10 Sep 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a Rs 1,600-crore assistance package for flood-hit Punjab after reviewing the damage. He also announced ex gratia for the deceased and injured. The state is battling its worst deluge since 1988.

'Our Nifty Target For December Is 26,500'

'Our Nifty Target For December Is 26,500'

Rediff.com24 Jun 2025

'We continue to view India as a standout within EM.'

What The Next Census Will Discover

What The Next Census Will Discover

Rediff.com5 Jun 2025

The next Census' findings will help identify the extent of India's ageing population and vulnerability levels.

'Markets Have Already Scaled A Wall Of Worry'

'Markets Have Already Scaled A Wall Of Worry'

Rediff.com7 Aug 2025

'From tariff tensions and border skirmishes to unrest in West Asia.' 'The worst may be behind us. But any further upmove will now have to come from earnings.'

Some green shoots, but rural a stressor for FMCG companies

Some green shoots, but rural a stressor for FMCG companies

Rediff.com19 Dec 2023

Companies manufacturing fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) continue to see rural stress sustain and it continues to trail urban demand. At the Confederation of Indian Industry's FMCG summit, managements of various companies pointed out urban demand continued to grow while rural demand remained under pressure because incomes were under stress in rural areas. "Due to rural stress, volumes continue to remain an issue for the industry and we are yet to see any revival in demand," Sudhir Sitapati, managing director (MD) and chief executive officer (CEO) at Godrej Consumer Products

India Inc to clock 7-8% revenue growth in Q4

India Inc to clock 7-8% revenue growth in Q4

Rediff.com24 Feb 2025

Domestic rating agency ICRA on Monday said Indian companies are likely to clock 7-8 per cent revenue growth during the March quarter of the current fiscal year, led by revival in rural demand and uptick in government spending. ICRA expects the private capital expenditure (capex) cycle to remain measured in view of the uncertainties around geopolitical developments and relatively subdued outlook on merchandise exports from India.

'If cops hadn't reached....': Jawan's mother recounts toll plaza horror

'If cops hadn't reached....': Jawan's mother recounts toll plaza horror

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

The family of an Army jawan, Kapil, recounts the brutal assault he endured at a toll plaza in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. They describe the attack and the injuries he sustained, while police investigate and make arrests.

Automobile retail sales up 5% in June; PVs, two-wheelers see growth

Automobile retail sales up 5% in June; PVs, two-wheelers see growth

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

Automobile retail sales in India rose around 5 per cent year-on-year in June with all vehicle segments, including passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, witnessing growth, Federation of Automotive Dealers Associations (FADA) said on Monday.

Will secure, advance national interest: Goyal on Trump tariffs

Will secure, advance national interest: Goyal on Trump tariffs

Rediff.com31 Jul 2025

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal assures Parliament that India will take necessary steps to protect its national interests following the US announcement of tariffs on Indian goods. The government is assessing the implications and engaging with stakeholders.

Employment In Urban India: Good News!

Employment In Urban India: Good News!

Rediff.com14 Mar 2023

Urban employment rate increased to 34.96 per cent in February. This is the highest employment rate recorded in urban India since September 2020.

'Stray Dogs In Ghettos Is A Health Nightmare'

'Stray Dogs In Ghettos Is A Health Nightmare'

Rediff.com19 Aug 2025

'It will be an explosion of zoonotic diseases from these places.' 'People will not be able to live or work for kilometres around these places where thousands of street dogs are kept.'

The price of building India: Why cement remains in the 28% GST slab

The price of building India: Why cement remains in the 28% GST slab

Rediff.com7 May 2025

The 31st meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, held in December 2018, deferred a decision to reduce the GST rate for cement from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. This was despite recognising that cement - along with automobile parts - remained among the few mass-consumption items still taxed at the highest slab, which was originally meant for luxury and sin goods.

India Strikes At Pakistan Airbases

India Strikes At Pakistan Airbases

Rediff.com10 May 2025

Pakistan military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told a hurriedly called press conference in Islamabad at around 4 am that th Pakistan air force's Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) airbases were targeted.

The Lamborghini theory of India's consumption patterns

The Lamborghini theory of India's consumption patterns

Rediff.com14 Mar 2024

Lamborghini has sold 10,112 cars worldwide -- so India's 100 is certainly a big deal for them. But how big a deal is it for us to peg our consumption theories around, asks Rama Bijapurkar.

'Declaring End Of Maoist Insurgency By March 2026 Is Foolish'

'Declaring End Of Maoist Insurgency By March 2026 Is Foolish'

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

'Handling or mitigating a rebellion is not a corporate plan with quarterly, half-yearly and annual goals and results but an aggregation of the effort of several years.'

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Govt urges banks to close inoperative Jan Dhan accounts

Rediff.com7 Jul 2025

State-owned banks have received guidance from the government to close Jan Dhan accounts whose beneficiaries are unwilling to keep them active, amid rising instances of such accounts being misused by fraudsters as mule accounts to defraud people, people aware of the development said.

How Census 2027 Will Be Done

How Census 2027 Will Be Done

Rediff.com14 Aug 2025

'There will be not less than 31 lakh people working in the census process.'

What Husain Painting's Record Sale Will Fund

What Husain Painting's Record Sale Will Fund

Rediff.com21 Mar 2025

Proceeds from the sale will support the training of future generations of doctors at the Oslo University Hospital. The fascinating story behind the Husain painting which set a new record for modern Indian art.